Theater-lighting control apparatus



Nov. 19, 192.1. J. c. MASEK 1,736,454

THEATER LIGHTING CONTROL APPARATUS Filed June 10, 1927 INVENTOR James 6Muse/f A'TTORNEY ing the above-noted characteristics,

' 1927 by me,

Patented Nov. 19, 1922 new, or rawra, murmuame named PATENT OFFICE TBBNIEB-LIQHTING CGHTBOL APPARATUS Application fled June 10,

contactor switches and low-current control circuits.

An object of my invention is to provide a theater-lighting controlsystem of the multiscene pre-set type wherein the lighting circuits arecontrolled directly by manually operableswitches and wherein a three ormore wire distributing system is employed.

Another object of my invention is to provide a theater-lighting controlsystem havwherein the loads or lamps of each circuit are connected tothe neutralconductor of a three or more wire system and wherein theloads or lamps of a circuit are connected to at least two separate feedconductors.

, In the copending application, Serial No. 577,830, filed July 27, 1922,by Bert F, Fuller, and in the copending application, Serial No. 199,702(Case No. 12,343), filed June 18, both of which are assigned to theWestinghouse Electric & Manufacturing. Company, theater-lighting controlapparatus is disclosed wherein the contactor switches are controlled byelectromagnets connected to control circuits. The control circuits arecontrolled by pre-selecting switches connected in a two-wire controlsystem and, therefore, the problems incident to direct switchingconnections in a three or more wire system are not encountered.

In a three-wire system wherein the loads are controlled by directlyconnected manually operable switches, each circuit may contain a numberof loads or lamps that may be unequally distributed between the twoseparate feed conductors of the three-wire circuit. The simplest form ofcontrol for a system of this character would consist in providingswitches in the neutral wire or us. However, such a system would beobjectionable for the reason that, where the lamps are unequallydistributed between the two feed con- 1927. Serial No. 187,826.

doctors of a circuit, interruption of the neutral bus circuit wouldresult in ab ormal voltages bein applied to the group oi lamps havingthe east number connected to a feed conductor, Such increase in voltagewould result in failure of the lamps and throw such circuits out ofcommission.

A further object of my invention is to provide a theater-lighting systemwherein the feed conductors of a lamp circuit are opened concurrentlyand maintained open while not in service, in order that the difficultyabovementioned may be obviated. These and other objects of my inventionthat will be made apparent throughout the further description thereofare attained by means of the apparatus hereinafter described andillustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein The single figure is aWiring diagram of a theater-lighting control system embodying featuresof my invention.

Referring to the drawing, the system includes a neutral feed bus 1 and"feed busses 2 and 3 which, for the purpose of illustration may beconsidered as positive and negative busses, respectively.

The feed busses are provided with a main multi-pole switch 4 forcontrolling all of the circuits connected to the feed busses. Asillustrated, four lighting circuits, namely, white foot lights, red tootlights, white border lights and red border lights are shown as connectedto the feed busses 1, 2 and 3. Each load circuit comprises a pluralityof groups of lamps 5 and 6 that are connected to the neutral branchbusses'l. The lamps of groups 5 and 6 are connected, respectively, toseparate feed conductors 8 and 9.

It is an object of my invention to means whereby the illumination may bepreset for a plurality of scenes and wherein, after certain selectorswitches have been pro-set, certain groups of lighting circuits will beenergized when a selected scene switch is closed.

For the purpose of illustration, circuits are rovided to cause White andred illumination of the loot lights and the border lights.

provide re WESTZNGHDUSE ntncrarc comm, a coaroaa'rron or rnunsrnvmmluminated during scene Scene switches are provided for two scenes andselection switches are provided in each circuit for three scenes. Itwill be understood that any number of scenes may be accommodated byadding scene switches of the type shown and by adding a correspondingnumber of presettable selector switches to be iereinafter described.

In the diagram main feed conductors 11 and 12 are connected to thebusses 3 and 2, respectively, the bus 11 being provided with groups ofbranch leads 13 and 14, one for each scene switch, and the branch leads13 and 14 are provided with groups of terminals 15, 16 and 17, a groupfor each load circuit. The main feed conductor 12 is and 19, one foreach scene switch, and each branch lead is provided with groups ofterminals 21, 22 and 23. All of the said branch terminals are adapted tobe engaged by bridging contacts 24 mounted on insulating switch bars 25and 26 of the scene 1 and scene 2 switches, as indicated in the figure.

Each load or lighting circuit is provided with a group of individuallypre-settable selective switches, marked S01, S02 and S03, representingthe selector switches for scenes 1, 2 and 3. The selector switches areof the double-pole type and serve to connect the separate feedconductors 8 and 9 to their respective bridging contacts on theirrespective scene switch. For illustration, the contact jaws 27 and 28 ofthe S01 selector switch are connected, respectively, to terminals 29 and31 by conductors 32 and 33 and are adapted to be engaged by the bridgingcontact members 24 of the scene 1 switch.

The scene 2 pre-settable selector switch of the white foot light circuitis connected to terminals 34 and 35 by conductors 36 and 37,respectively. The said terminals are adapted to be engaged by bridgingcontact members 24 of the scene 2 switch.

The pre-settable selector switches of the other circuits are similarlyconnected to their respective scene switches and, by reason of thearrangement of connectors and switches, any desired number of circuitsmay be preselected for energization when any selected scene switch isclosed. If it is desired that the white foot lights and red borderlights be il- No. 1 and scene No. 3, the selector switches S01 and S03are closed. The circuits associated therewith will be energized when thescene 1 and scene 3 switches are closed.

Color master switches 38 and 39 are provided for the purpose ofcontrolling the color of the lamps of any part of the stage during anyparticular scene. Such switches are desirable in the event that it isdesired to drop out any particular color during a scene. Under ordinaryoperating conditions, all of the color master switches will bemaintained in closed position, thus depending upon the pre-selection ofthe circuits by means of the scene S01, S02, etc., switches to functionin a predetermined manner.

It will be noted that the white color master switch 38 is provided withbridging contact members 41 for engaging contact terminals 42 of thefeed conductors 8 and 9 of the white foot light and white border lightcircuits. The red color master switch 39 is provided with bridgingcontact members 43 for engaging contact members 44 of the feedconductors 8 and 9 of the red foot light and red border light circuits.

Assuming that the main multi-pole switch 4, the white color masterswitch 38, the scene 1 switch and the S01 selector switch of the whitefoot light circuit are closed, current passes through the conductor 11,branch conductor 13, terminals 15 and 29, conductor 32, terminal 27 S01switch blade, feed conductor 8, contact terminals 42 bridging member 41,contact terminal 42, lamps of group 5 to the neutral branch conductor 7that is connected to the main neutral bus 1. 1

Current passes through the feed conductor 12, branch conductor 18,branch terminals 21, s itch member 24 of the scene 1 switch, terminal31, conductor 33, contact terminals 28, S01 switch, feed conductor 9,terminal 42, bridging switch 41 of the white color master switch 38,terminal 42, feed conductor 9 and lamps of group 6 of the branch neutralconductor 7, connected to the neutral bus 1. Similarly, current willpass through any closed prcsettable selector switch to the load circuitswhen its respective scene switch is closed and when the color masterswitch is closed.

By reason of the fact that both feed conductors of a lighting circuitare open concurrently, there is no danger of the voltage ris ing in thevarious lamp circuits and, consequently, there is no danger of the lampsbeing put out of commission.

Various modifications may be made in the device embodying my inventionwithout departing from the spirit and scope thereof and I desire,therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereon as areimposed by the prior art or are specifically set forth in the appendedclaims.

I claim as my invention 1; In a three-conductor distributing systemhaving a neutral conductor and two feed conductors, a plurality of loadcircuits each having loads connected to the neutral conductor and toseparate said feed conductors, a plurality of separately operableswitches for controlling the circuits through the said separateconductors and a corresponding number of double-pole selector switchesfor each load circuit for selectively connecting the said separateconductors to a selected separately operable switch.

52. In threaconductor distributing system having a neutral conductor andtwo feed conductors, a plurality of load circuits divided into separategroups and each load circuit having loads connected to the neutralconductor and to separate said feed conductors, a plurality ofseparately 0 erable switches for controlling the circuit t rough thesaid separate conductors, a corresponding number of double-pole selectorswitches for each load circuit for selectively connecting the saidseparate conductors to a selected said separately operable switch and asepa rate switch for each said grou for controlling the circuit throughthe sai separate conductors of each group.

3. In a three-or-more-conductor theaterlighting system having a neutralconductor and two or more feed conductors, a plurality of load circuitseach having loads connected to the neutral conductor and to a separatesaid feed conductor, a plurality of scene switches for controllin thecircuit through the said separate con actors and a corresponding numberof pre-settable double-pole selector switches for each load circuit forselectively connecting the separate conductors to a said selected sceneswitch.

4. In a three-or-more-conductor theaterlighting system having a neutralconductor and two or more feed conductors, a pluralit of load circuitsdivided into oups and eac having loads connected to t e neutralconcuctor and to a separate said feed conductor, a plurality ofscene-switches for controlling the circuit through the said separateconductors, a corresponding number of doubleole selector switches foreach load circuit or selectively connecting the separate conductors to aselected scene switch and a separate color switch for each group forcontrolling the circuit through the said separate conductors of eachgroup.

5. In a three-conductor distributing sys tem having a neutral conductorand two or more feed conductors, a plurality of load circuits eachhaving loads connected to the neutral conductor and to a separate feedconductor, a plurality of se arately operable switches for controlling te circuit through the said separate conductors and a correspondingnumber of pairs of selector switches for each load circuit forselectively connecting the'said separate conductors to a selected saidseparately operable switch.

In testimo y whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name this 2nd day ofJune, 1927.

JAMES C. MASEK.

